Bicycle-frame.



No. 644,187. Patented Mar. e, |900.

G. H. wlLLlAMs.

BICYCLE 'FRAME (Application filed Dec. 15, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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PATENT Ormes.

OF CLEVELAND, OIIIO.

sloYoLE-FRAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,787, dated March 6, 1900. Application filed December 15, 1898. Serial No. 699,348. (No model.) i

clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to spring-frames for bicycles, and more especially to such frames as are formed of two portions or sections hinged together at the bottom and have a spring connection between their upper ends.

My invention comprises, essentially, a pcculiar construction of the spring connection between the two frame-sections, and consequently consists in certain combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure I is a side elevation of a portion of a bicycle embodying my invention, and the operating shaft is shown in section in this figure. Fig. II is aside sectional view illustrating, respectively, my improved spring connection between the two frame-sections of the'machine. Fig. III is a top plan of the spring connection on line III III, Fig. II. Fig. IV is a vertical section on 4line IV IV, Fig. III.

The framework of my improved machine comprises a forward section A and a rear section B, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings. The said frame-sections A and B are hinged together in any approved manner at the bottom. The rear frame-section is connected to the rear or driven wheel of the machine, whereas the forward frame-section is connected in the usual manner with the forward wheel of the machine.

l) designates the hinge connection between the two frames, which hinge connection supports the operating-shaft C.

The rear frame-section B is preferably a triangular frame, having upright bars converging toward their upper ends and connected together at their lower ends in any approved manner.

A designates the rear upright bar of the forward frame-section A, which bar forms the standard or support for the saddle-post a. The bar A' is arranged a short distance forward of and almost parallel with the forward upright bar B of the rear frame-section B. The upwardly-converging bars B of the rear frame are connected together at their upper ends by a head or yoke I, that is secured at its lower end in any approved manner to the said bars. Yoke or head I at its upper end has two arms t" and i2 projecting upwardly at opposite sides, respectively, of a hollow bar H, that is arranged horizontally or approximately horizontally and longitudinally of the machine. The chamber of the bar H is closed at its ends partially or wholly, so as to form two inwardly-facing walls h and h2 atl opposite ends, respectively, of the said chamber. The bar Il extends forwardly and rearwardly of and over the upper end of the rear framesection and has its forward end pivoted horizontally in any approved manner, as at II', to a collar d', that is mounted or formed upon the upper portion of the saddle-post standard- A. A block G is arranged within the cham# ber of the bar H and is pivoted horizontally and transversely of the bar, as at g, to the arms t" and t2 of thehead or yoke I. The chamber of the bar I-I has its side walls slotted longitudinally of the bar, as at ha, and the pivotal bolt g extends through the slots h3, that accommodate not only the'location of the said bolt, but an endwise shifting of the bar I-I independently of the block G and an endwise shifting of the latter independently of member H.

The operation of the forward spring E will of course be vastly more appreciated when the rear wheel ofthe machine strikes an obstruction, because the riders seat is approvi mately arranged over the said wheel.

The springF is normally under tension, and therefore causes the springabutmentfor1n ing block G to bear more or less against the forward spring and places the latter under some tension. The two springs are prevented from rattling by the normal tension ofthe rear spring and the pressure by the said spring upon the forward spring through the interposed block Gr. The rear spring F presents another and more important function in cushioning the forward spring so that the latter upon the recoil following its compression will not vibrate the machine, and thereby avoid rendering the rider uncomfortable IOO by the shock that would take place in the absence of the rear or auxiliary spring F. The pivotal connection between the spring-bearing bar H and the forward frame-section and the pivotal connection between the bearing forming block G and the rear frame-section accommodate a vertical tilting of the said bar during the operation of the spring connection, and the said manner of connecting the springbearing bar H and the block G to the forward frame-section and rear frame-section, respectively, is obviously essential in order to accommodate the tilting of either frame-section upwardly and toward and independently of the other frame-section, and the hinge connection b between the two frame-'sections is arranged with its axis horizontally and transversely of the framework, so as to accommodate the aforesaid tilting of the frame-sections. Two springs E and F are coniined within the chamber of the bar H between opposite ends, respectively, of the block G and opposite end walls, respectively, of the said chamber. The spring Eis arranged, therefore, within the chamber of the bar H between the forward end of.1nember Gr and the forward end wall of the said chamber, and the spring F is arranged within the said chamber between the rear of the member G and the rear end wall of the chamber. The forward springE is about twice as heavy as the rear spring F.

They operation of my improved spring connection between the two frames is as follows: When theforward wheel in operating the machine strikes an obstruction and is thereby lifted so as to result in tilting` the forward fram e-section upwardly and rearwardly upon the hinge connection between the said framesection and the rear frame-section, the springbearing bar Il shifts rearwardly upon the bearing-forming block G, and thereby compresses the forward spring E'and prevents the rider from receiving a shock that would in the absence of the spring connection rcsnlt from the encounter of the machine with the aforesaid obstruction. The rear wheel upon striking an obstruction in the operation of the machine will be lifted, and thereby tilt the rear frame upwardly and forwardly upon the hinge connection between the said frame and the forward frame and result in the shifting of the block G forwardly within the bar H and result in the compression of the forward spring E, and thereby prevent the rider from annoyingly feeling the striking of the obstruction.

That I claim isn l. The combination with a bicycles framework composed of a forward section and a rear section hingedl together horizontally at the bottom horizontally and transversely of the machine; of a spring connection arranged between the upper ends of the said framesections and comprising the following: a bar pivoted horizontally and transversely of and extending rearwardly from the forward framesection; a block 'pivoted horizontally and i work comprising a forward frame-section and a rear frame-section horizontally and transversely hinged together at the bottom; of a spring connection between the upper ends of the frame-sections, which spring connection comprises the following: abar extending rearwardly from the upper end of the forward frame-section to and over the rear frame-section, which bar is pivoted horizontally and transversely, at itsv forward end, to the forward fram e-section; two upwardly-projecting arms formed upon the rear frame-section and arranged at opposite sides, respectively, of the aforesaid bar; a block arranged to afford bearing for and shiftable endwise of the said bar and pivoted,horizontall y and transversely of the bar, to the aforesaid arms, and two springs confined between opposite ends, respectively, of the aforesaid block, and opposite ends, respectively, of the bar, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination with a bicycles framework comprising a forward frame-section and a rear frame-section horizontally and transversely hinged together at the bottom, and a spring connection between the upper ends of the two frame-sections, which spring connection comprises the following: a hollow bar eX- tending rearwardly from the upper end of the forward frame-section to and over the rear frame-section and having an internal chamber extending from end to end of the bar and provided with end walls, which bar is transversely pivoted to the forward frame-section; a block arranged within the said chamber and pivoted horizontally and transversely of the chambered bar to the rear frame-section and shiftable endwise of the said chamber; two

springs confined within the chambered bar between opposite ends, respectively, of the said block, and opposite end walls, respectively, of the chamber of the bar, and the forward spring being heavier than the rear spring. l

4. The combination with a bicycles framework comprising a forward section and a rear section horizontally and transversely hinged together at the bottom; of a hollow bar eX- tending forwardly and rearwardly over the rear frame-section and transversely pivoted to the forward frame-section, which bar has an internal chamber extending from end to end of the bar and having end walls, which chamber has its side walls slotted longitudinally of the bar, as at h3, and two arms formed upon the rear frame-section and projecting upwardly at opposite sides, respectively, of

IOO

IIO

644,787 l v e the aforesaid bar; a block arranged Within the aforesaid. chamber above the rear frameseetion and pivoted, transversely of the bar, to the aforesaid arms, and having the pivotforming member or members extending 1aterally through .the slots of the side Walls of the aforesaid chamber; two springs eonned within the bar between the block and opposite end Walls, respectively, of the bar, substantiaily as and for the purpose set forth. 1o Signed by me at Lorain, Ohio, this 25th day of October, 1898.

GURDON H. WILLIAMS. Witnesses:

W. B. THOMPSON, CHAs. E. WOOTERs. 

